This blog is written by a journalist based in Mumbai who writes about cities, the environment, developmental issues, the media, women and many other subjects.The title 'ulti khopdi' is a Hindi phrase referring to someone who likes to look at things from the other side.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

HERE is the good news. There is a decent chance thatDelhi will soonhave a woman police commissioner. And that too, noordinary woman. Theperson slated to take over the post is Kiran Bedi, thefirst woman IndianPolice Service (IPS) officer whose work has won hermany awards,national and international.

Maharashtra could also have a woman at the top — thefirst woman IndianAdministrative Service (IAS) officer to become ChiefSecretary of theState. None of this is confirmed at the time ofwriting. But the chanceslook good for both women.

But both these women, regardless of their standing intheir respectiveservices, would have had to fill in the same appraisalform that judgestheir worth not just by what they have achieved asofficers, but whatthey are as women. Here biology has been made animportant component ofperformance appraisal at work. If this soundsridiculous, that isprecisely what it is. And why it has drawn anger andprotest from seniorwomen officers. (For the rest of the article, click on the link)

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Journalist, columnist, writer based in Mumbai. Author of "Rediscovering Dharavi: Stories from Asia's largest slum" (Penguin, 2000). Worked with The Hindu, Times of India, Indian Express and Himmat Weekly.
Other books include "Whose News? The Media and Women's Issues" edited with Ammu Joseph (published by Sage 1994/2006), "Terror Counter-Terror: Women Speak Out" edited with Ammu Joesph (published by Kali for Women, 2003) and "Missing: Half the Story, Journalism as if Gender Matters" (published by Zubaan, 2010).
Regular columns in The Hindu, Sunday Magazine and on The Hoot (www.thehoot.org).